On the face of it, Volkswagen's new Polo is a car with everything going for it.

Totally competent on the road, solidly engineered, technologically advanced and with significantly more space than its predecessor, it's right up there with the best of the supermini pack.

But there's one vital ingredient lacking soul.

With Citroen about to do the Can Can with the chic new C3, SEAT shimmying to a Samba beat in the sleek shape of the latest Ibiza and even Honda doing a Charleston with the funky Jazz, the new Polo is a Vienna Waltz of a car.

Even Ford's new-edge Fiesta can conjure up a Fandango. The Polo, however, would be hard pressed to manage a swift slap on the lederhosen.

If cars had a sense of humour, the Polo's would be German.

But does it matter?

Almost certainly not. The new Polo may be short on pzazz compared with its rivals in this year's new crop of small family cars but it's high on practicality and we can give you a variety of compelling reasons why it should be the supermini of choice for the thinking motorist.

And the most compelling of all is cost of ownership.

Let's start with the high efficiency petrol and diesel engines which offer a promise of impressive real-world fuel economy. According to official figures, the new 65bhp, 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol engine is capable of 47.1mpg in mixed driving while the range-topping 1.9 litre 100bhp diesel is credited with 56.5mpg.

Servicing and repair costs should be amongst the lowest in the supermini sector too. The new Polo can be set to run with variable servicing meaning that you could drive for up to two years without a service while bumps and scrapes will cost much less to fix. Repairing the rear bumper after a 10mph collision will cost £153 - £300 less than before.

The Polo's tough new bodyshell - said to be the most rigid in its class - together with advanced security and safety features make it cheaper to insure.

Then, of course, there are VW's legendary residual values. Buying a new Polo is the nearest you could come to a copper-bottomed investment - retained values of the old range were as high as 48pc after three years and the new model is going to be even better. No other supermini can come close.

Take a look at the impeccable panel fit; listen to the satisfying clunk when you close a door and you'll quickly appreciate that while much has changed in the new Polo, VW's legendary build quality has not.

Like most of this year's new superminis, the Polo has grown considerably in physical size.

For the driver, it's easy to adopt a perfect driving position thanks to a height and reach adjustable steering column. Five door versions provide easy access to the rear seats - three door models, less so.

There's no doubting the quality of the materials used on the interior, but the design, like the exterior, is a tad nondescript. The lay-out is logical, the instruments clear and everything fits beautifully but it somehow lacks excitement. It's functional in the kind of teutonic way which characterised VWs of the 80s it only comes alive at night thanks to the sexy blue illumination of the instruments and radio.

On the road, the Polo is a class act. New subframe technology coupled with heavily modified front suspension and a new torsion bar system at the rear combine to provide an excellent blend of comfortable ride and sharp handling. It hangs on tenaciously through corners and driveability is further enhanced by a new electro-hydraulic power steering system.

The new 1.2 litre, three cylinder engine fitted in this car is a gem. Its distinctive noise takes a little getting used to, but there's no doubting its refinement - helped by the fitting of a balancer shaft to reduce vibration - and it offers impressive, low-speed pull away and mid-range flexibility with maximum torque being available at a low 3,000rpm.

Other models will follow later in the year, but the Polo range is on sale now with a choice of five engines - three of them diesels - and in five trim levels.

The £7,995 entry level 55bhp 1.2E will not be available until the summer, so for now the starter model is the 65bhp 1.2 E. Priced at £8,820 it comes with four airbags, anti-lock brakes and electrically adjustable door mirrors. S models, currently priced from £9,780 add central locking with an anti-hijack facility and electric front windows while semi-automatic air con can be specified for a further £595.

Next up are even more sumptuously trimmed SE trim models, priced from £11,195 while the ultimate Polo in the new range is the £13,995 Sport TDI PD five door which comes with alloy wheels, front fogs, heated screen washer jets, sports seats, a trip computer and sports suspension.